Airlines’ revenue from extra fees up 42% in one year

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FILE – In this June 13, 2008 file photo, passengers wait in line at the check-in counter for US Airways at Philadelphia International Airport. US Airways Group Inc. and United Airlines are both adding $5 service fees for passengers who pay to check their bags at the airport. Passengers can avoid the fee on a fee by paying to check their baggage when they check in online. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek, File)

United and Continental, which on Monday announced plans to combine, were sixth and seventh among carriers in fees collected, with $619.5 million and $539.7 million, respectively.

Delta, the world’s largest airline, collected the most revenue from fees at $1.65 billion. American was second, followed by US Airways.

Southwest, the only major airline that doesn’t charge for the first two checked bags, was fourth in the fee rankings. Southwest, which carries more passengers than any other U.S. airline, charges $50 for a third checked bag, as well as fees for pets traveling in the cabin and unaccompanied minors.

While discount carrier Spirit Airlines didn’t make the top 10, 21 percent of its total operating revenue came from extra fees — more than any other carrier. Besides bag fees, Spirit charges for seat assignments, drinks, snacks, pets and kids traveling alone. It will start charging as much as $45 for a carry-on bag as of Aug. 1.

In the last three months of the year, revenue from airline fees rose 18 percent to at least $1.9 billion. Bag fees totaled $736 million in the October-to-December period.